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Compare Turks and Caicos Islands (2008) - Benin (2005)

Compare Turks and Caicos Islands (2008) z Benin (2005)

 Turks and Caicos Islands (2008)Benin (2005)
 Turks and Caicos IslandsBenin
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK) 12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Age structure 0-14 years: 31.3% (male 3,466/female 3,345)


15-64 years: 64.8% (male 7,398/female 6,690)


65 years and over: 3.9% (male 394/female 453) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 46.5% (male 1,752,243/female 1,719,458)


15-64 years: 51.2% (male 1,868,630/female 1,948,610)


65 years and over: 2.3% (male 70,367/female 100,717) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Airports 8 (2007) 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 6


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2007)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2007)
total: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Area total: 430 sq km


land: 430 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 112,620 sq km


land: 110,620 sq km


water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Background The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory. Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged.
Birth rate 21.48 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 41.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $47 million


expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)
revenues: $869.4 million


expenditures: $720.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)


geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W


time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October
Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government
Climate tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Coastline 389 km 121 km
Constitution Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006 (effective 9 August 2006) December 1990
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands


abbreviation: TCI
conventional long form: Republic of Benin


conventional short form: Benin


local long form: Republique du Benin


local short form: Benin


former: Dahomey
Death rate 4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $NA $1.6 billion (2000)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL


embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou


mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou


telephone: [229] 30-06-50


FAX: [229] 30-06-70
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN


chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656


FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
Disputes - international have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and the states expect a ruling in 2005 from the ICJ over the disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; a joint task force was established in 2004 that resolved disputes over and redrew the maritime and the 870-km land boundary with Nigeria, including the sovereignty over seven villages along the Okpara River; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones
Economic aid - recipient $4.1 million (1997) $342.6 million (2000)
Economy - overview The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past six years, but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, and encourage new information and communication technology. The 2001 privatization policy should continue in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of initial government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. Benin continues to be hurt by Nigerian trade protection that bans imports of a growing list of products from Benin and elsewhere. As a result, smuggling and criminality along the Benin-Nigeria border has been on the rise.
Electricity - consumption 10.76 million kWh (2005) 565.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 300 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production 11.57 million kWh (2005) 285.2 million kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10% African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Richard TAUWHARE (since 11 July 2005)


head of government: Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (since 15 August 2003); note - the office of premier was created in the 2006 constitution


cabinet: Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly, and the attorney general


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor
chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held March 2006)


election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9%


note: the four top-ranking contenders following the first-round presidential elections were: Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%, Nicephore SOGLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of State) 8.6%; the second-round balloting, originally scheduled for 18 March 2001, was postponed four days because both SOGLO and HOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU to run against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed a "friendly match"
Exports 0 bbl/day (2004) NA
Exports - commodities lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners US, UK (2006) China 28.7%, India 18.4%, Ghana 6.3%, Thailand 6%, Niger 5.8%, Indonesia 4.2%, Nigeria 4.2% (2004)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 36.3%


industry: 14.3%


services: 49.4% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.9% (2000 est.) 5% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 21 45 N, 71 35 W 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Geography - note about 40 islands (eight inhabited) sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands
Highways - total: 6,787 km


paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)


unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly regulated financial infrastructure
Imports 83.55 bbl/day (2004) NA
Imports - commodities food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners US, UK (2006) China 32.2%, France 13%, Thailand 6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3% (2004)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 1 August 1960 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 8.3% (2001 est.)
Industries tourism, offshore financial services textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001)
Infant mortality rate total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 17 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 12.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: 85 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 79.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4% (1995) 2.8% (2004 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Irrigated land NA 120 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Court of Appeal Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Labor force 4,848 (1990 est.) NA (1996)
Labor force - by occupation note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services -
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,989 km


border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Land use arable land: 2.33%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.67% (2005)
arable land: 18.08%


permanent crops: 2.4%


other: 79.52% (2001)
Languages English (official) French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Legal system based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats of which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011)


election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; seats by party - PNP 13, PDM 2
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small parties) 31
Life expectancy at birth total population: 74.95 years


male: 72.69 years


female: 77.32 years (2007 est.)
total population: 52.66 years


male: 51.53 years


female: 53.82 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 98%


male: 99%


female: 98% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 33.6%


male: 46.4%


female: 22.6% (2002 est.)
Location Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 200 nm
Merchant marine registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2007) -
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches - Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $96.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2.4% (2004)
National holiday Constitution Day, 30 August (1976) National Day, 1 August (1960)
Nationality noun: none


adjective: none
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)


adjective: Beninese
Natural hazards frequent hurricanes hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Natural resources spiny lobster, conch small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Net migration rate 9.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
People - note destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US -
Political parties and leaders People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK] African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Key Force or FC [leader NA]; Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and four small parties); Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]


note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 21,746 (July 2007 est.) 7,460,025


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 33% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 2.722% (2007 est.) 2.82% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors - Cotonou
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Railways - total: 578 km


narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Religions Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990) indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.036 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.106 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female


total population: 1.073 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing


domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available


international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: NA


domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections


international: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Telephones - main lines in use 5,700 (2002) 66,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,700 (1999) 236,200 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003) 1 (2001)
Terrain low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Total fertility rate 3.02 children born/woman (2007 est.) 5.86 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 10% (1997 est.) NA
Waterways - 150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)
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